Dronenburg for assessor/recorder/clerk

One of the more obscure yet important races on the Nov. 2 ballot is for the job of San Diego County assessor/recorder/clerk. The holder of the post oversees processing, recording and archiving of real estate transactions and such records as marriage licenses and birth and death certificates, and sets valuations of land, homes, buildings and boats for property tax purposes.

The incumbent, David L. Butler, has steadily lost the confidence of other county leaders since his appointment by county supervisors in March 2009 to fill the vacancy created by Greg Smith’s resignation. Most top county officials have thrown their support to Ernest J. “Ernie” Dronenburg, a state-certified assessor and a businessman who served for five terms as a member of the state Board of Equalization and is a former national partner in Deloitte Tax.

We were highly impressed with Dronenburg in a spring interview. His broad and deep background gives him unusual credibility when he talks about the need to make the public sector as productive as the private sector in such areas as payroll and claims processing, record-keeping and many basic white-collar clerical functions.

The assessor/recorder/clerk’s duties may seem arcane, but they are crucial. We think Dronenburg has the potential to do an outstanding job and strongly support his election.